Rudd experienced 75g-force crash
By Lee Spencer, FOXSports.com
RICHMOND, Va. - After not quite finishing his 900th career start, Ricky Rudd wasn't around to race at his hometown track on Saturday night.
The popular veteran driver of the No. 88 Ford was nursing his shoulder that separated after experiencing a 75g-force hit at California Speedway last Sunday when he hit a wall unprotected by the SAFER barrier. Most of the tracks on the NASCAR circuit only use the SAFER barrier in the corners. According to a NASCAR official, the tracks rely on the University of Nebraska to make recommendations as to the positioning of the SAFER barriers.
"Looking at the difference that the barrier provided, the guard system works," Rudd said of the system that uses energy absorbing foam to deflect the impact of the crash. "When the car hit the wall sideways, the vertical g's try to toss you into your seatbelt. The tops of my shoulders sustained 14gs — that's 14 times my body weight that you're trying to keep in the seat."
Rudd, who uses a Randy LaJoie seat, was complimentary of the equipment. He feels without the advancements made to the system over the last two years he could have been thrown from the car.
"The seat did its job," said Rudd, who began physical therapy last week. "The doctors won't give me a time when I can come back. We'll look at next week when we get there. I'm thinking in my head it's a three-week injury. But I don't know yet. I've been told I have a high two- to a level-three shoulder injury and the stages go up to five."
Kenny Wallace, who substituted for Rudd in the No. 88 Ford finished 28th.
By Lee Spencer, FOXSports.com
RICHMOND, Va. - After not quite finishing his 900th career start, Ricky Rudd wasn't around to race at his hometown track on Saturday night.
The popular veteran driver of the No. 88 Ford was nursing his shoulder that separated after experiencing a 75g-force hit at California Speedway last Sunday when he hit a wall unprotected by the SAFER barrier. Most of the tracks on the NASCAR circuit only use the SAFER barrier in the corners. According to a NASCAR official, the tracks rely on the University of Nebraska to make recommendations as to the positioning of the SAFER barriers.
"Looking at the difference that the barrier provided, the guard system works," Rudd said of the system that uses energy absorbing foam to deflect the impact of the crash. "When the car hit the wall sideways, the vertical g's try to toss you into your seatbelt. The tops of my shoulders sustained 14gs — that's 14 times my body weight that you're trying to keep in the seat."
Rudd, who uses a Randy LaJoie seat, was complimentary of the equipment. He feels without the advancements made to the system over the last two years he could have been thrown from the car.
"The seat did its job," said Rudd, who began physical therapy last week. "The doctors won't give me a time when I can come back. We'll look at next week when we get there. I'm thinking in my head it's a three-week injury. But I don't know yet. I've been told I have a high two- to a level-three shoulder injury and the stages go up to five."
Kenny Wallace, who substituted for Rudd in the No. 88 Ford finished 28th.